Abstract
Nature of science is a critical component of scientific literacy. Nature of science is derived from observation of the natural world and involves human prediction, imagination and creativity. Development of scientific attitude and critical thinking among learners is not possible without inclusion of nature of science in Text books at school level. This study was conducted to analyze science textbooks of elementary level taught in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan for inclusion of nature of science. The analysis of books was based on validated framework of Chiappetta et al. (1991) on four themes namely; science as a body of knowledge, science as investigative nature of science, Science as a way of thinking and science as interaction of science, technology and society. Data of the study was based on evaluation of content of text books by 10 trained science teachers who had experience of teaching general science to elementary classes and expertise on content analysis. Tool of study was an evaluation sheet that required respondents to report responses about items on the basis of analysis of contents of text books. Data was analyzed calculating percentages. Results of this study indicated that all three science textbooks of grade 6th to 8th presented four themes but the theme “To investigative nature of science” had more reflection. The theme “Interaction of science, technology and society” was absolutely ignored in all three science textbooks. Therefore, the study suggested revising all three text books for well-balanced reflection of all the four themes in science textbooks.